Door fastener



Oct; 3- D. c. E. LEONARD 2,331,403;

DOOR FASTENER Filed June 24, 1941 Patented Oct. 12, 1943 DOOR FASTENERDavid C. E. Leonard, Hagerstown, Md assignor to Jamison Cold StorageDoor 00., Md, a-corporation of Maryland Hagerstown,

Application June 24,1941, Serial No. 399,518 2 Claims. ((1292-3 Thepresent invention relates to new and useful improvements inclosurefasteners, and more particularly to improvements in a fastener forhinged doors. I

The invention generally contemplates the pro.- vision of a hingedlymounted door, adapted to be conveniently employed for controlling anopening to a chamber which is to be maintained at a temperaturedifferent from normal atmospheric temperatures such as, a cold storageor refrigerator chamber, a heated chamber, or even a chamber which is tobe maintained at a moderate variation in pressure. Similarly, the doorof the present invention is well adapted for use as a sound-proof doorfor closing and sealing rooms or spaces in which intense noises must besuppressed or dampened, such as in test rooms where airplane engines arerun at high speeds for several hours. I Of course, the door may findemployment in the general field of acoustics requiring some soundcontrol. The door may be of any suitable type, such as an infitting oroverlapping door, for closing the opening in the door frame, and theremay be provided suitable sealingstrips or gaskets which are adapted tobe compressed between the door frame and the door so that a tight sealis established when the door is closed. The door is hingedly mounted onthe door frame for swinging movement and although the door may beemployed in various installations, the invention is particularlyconcerned with the provision of a fastener for use with refrigerator andsound controlling doors. With this type of door, there are generallyprovided cooperating bolt and keeper devices which operate as a latch tosecure the door in a closed position. f

An object of the present invention is to provide a door fastener whereinthe door is, positively maintained in a closed position by automaticengagement between a latch bolt and a keeper which is yieldable topermit the bolt to pass thereby only during closing of the door wherebyopening of thefdoor can only be effected by disengaging the bolt. fromthe keeper while the door is closed. a u i Another object of'theinvention is to provide a door fastener of the above type whereinthe keeper is yieldably mounted for slidihg movedoor can only beeifected by disengaging the.

bolt from the keeper while the door is closed.

'A further object of the invention is to provide a door fastener of theabove type wherein the lbOlt and keeper are constructed and arranged sothat the bolt contacts with the end of the keeper and passes therebyduring closing of the door and so that the bolt-contacts with the sideof the keeper when the door is closed whereby to positively'preventopening of the door until the bolt and keeper are completely disengagedwhile the door is'clo'sed.

' A still further object of the invention is to provide a door fastenerof the above type wherein thekeeper is spring-pressed outwardly intoengagement-with the adjacent surface of the bolt when the door is closedso as to compensate for minor variations in the degree to which the dooris spaced from the door frame whereby to maintain a tight seal as thesealing gasket becomes unduly compressed or worn.

The above and other objects of the invention will in part be obvious andwill be hereinafter more fully pointed out. 1

In the accompanying drawing:

Figure 1 is a fragmentary front elevation showing the fastener withthe'door in aclosed position. I

Figure 2 is a longitudinal side sectional view of Figure 1. I

a Figure 3 is an end view of Figure 1, partly in section, and showingone of the keeper elements. Figure .4 is an enlarged fragmentary detailview showing the relative positions of the bolt and keeper duringinitial'contact as the door is closed.

Figure 5 is a view similar to Figure 4, but showing two relativepositions of the bolt and keeper when the door is closed, the full linesshowing relative positions of the bolt and keeper when the gasketbecomes worn or compressed. Referring more in detail to the accompanyingdrawing, the door is illustrated as being of the refrigerator oracoustical type having a body wall) anda'front wall ll within whichsuitable insulation I2 is disposed. The body portion of the door isadapted to fitwithin a door opening i3 which is defined by a door frameM. The edges of the door are extendedto provide a flange portion I lawhich overlies the door frame and a gasket/l5 is disposed between thedoor f frame and the flange I la for the purpose of effectively sealingthe chamber. The door is preferably mounted for swinging movement bymeans [of hinges (notshown).

The door frame carries a bracket member'adjacent the free edge of thedoor and this bracket member includes a base portion l6 which is securedto the door frame by bolts IT or the like. The bracket member includesan upstanding wall portion l8 which is provided with housing members l9,|9a disposed between the edge of the door and the wall portion |8. Theadjacent inner ends of the housing members are spaced from one anotherso as to permit a bolt to pass thereby and are identical in constructionso that the housing member |9 will be described with reference to Figure3. This housing member includes an aperture the central axis of which isinclined with respect to the door frame and extends upwardly toward theopposite housing member l9a. The lower end of the aperture 20 in thehousing is internally threaded to receive any suitable type of adjustingplug 2| and the opposite end of the aperture is reduced so as to providean internal shoulder portion 22. A keeper element 23 fits within thereduced portion of the aperture and has an enlarged base or plug portion24 snugly fitting within the aperture 20 and capable of axial movementtherein. A coil spring 25 is disposed within the aperture 2|! betweenthe plug 2| and the base portion 24 and thus normally forces the keeper23 outwardly toward a limit position with the base portion 24 abuttingagainst the shoulder 22 as a stop. The exposed end 26 of the keeper 23is rounded and a similar keeper 23a is mounted for sliding movement inthe housing |9a and the exposed end 26a thereof is also rounded. Bothkeepers are thus slidable toward and away from one another alongintersecting axes which are disposed at substantially degrees withrespect to the plane of the door frame H, and the tension of the springsacting on both keepers may be adjusted by the adjusting plugs 2|, 2|a.

The door carries a latch mechanism which is disposed adjacent the edgethereof for cooperation with the keeper elements 23, 23a. The latchmechanism includes a supporting base 21 which is secured to the door bybolts 28 or the like, and this base 21 is provided with outwardlyextending spaced bearings 29, 30 which are apertured to receive andpermit reciprocation of a latch bolt 3|. Between the bearings 29, 30,there is provided an enclosed chamber which is defined by a wall portion32, side walls 33, 33a and a front block portion 34. The side walls 33,33a carry a pivot pin 35 on which a hand operating lever 36 is mounted.

The bolt 3| is provided with an enlarged portion 31 at the outer endthereof and a coil spring 38a is disposed between the bearing 30 and theinner end of the enlarged portion 31 so as to normally force the boltoutwardly toward the door frame. "The enlarged portion of the bolt isprovided with a recess 38 which extends substantially at right angles tothe plane of the door and the handle lever 36 is provided with a leverarm 39 extending into the chamber and disposed within the recess 33.()utward movement of the handle member 36 to the dotted line positionshown in Figure 2, will effect retraction of the bolt. -The blockportion 34 may be apertured to receive a shiftable key cylinder lock 40which is provided with a locking lug 4| adapted to extend within therecess 38 in the bolt so as to lock the bolt in its extended or lockingposition. The lock 40 may be elevated to the dotted line position shownin Figure 2 when it is desired to retract the bolt 3| completely out ofengagement with the keeper elements 23, 23a in order to permit openingof the door.

The exposed end of the enlarged portion 3'! of the bolt is shaped so asto provide a pair of angularly related faces 42, 42a at the outside ofthe bolt and a pair of angularly related faces 43, 43a at the inner sideof the bolt. These faces as shown are joined by rounded edges 44. Theouter inclined faces 42, 42a are disposed at a slight angle with respectto the longitudinal axes of the keepers. As illustrated, the faces 42,42a are disposed at an angle of approximately 45 degrees with respect tothe plane of the door and door frame and thus at an angle ofapproximately 15 degrees with respect to the longitudinal axes of thekeepers. The faces 43, 43a as shown are disposed at substantially rightangles to the axes of the keepers, or at least at a substantial anglethereto, as shown in Fig. 4.

Assuming the door to be open and the bolt extended by the spring 38a,closing of the door will bring the faces 43, 43a on the bolt intoengagement with the rounded ends 26, 25a on the keepers which arenormally slightly spaced from each other, as shown in Figure 4. Thus,the faces .3, 43a act with a resultant component of force tending toshift the keepers axially and dovmwardly against the action of thesprings 25. After the end of the bolt has passed the keepers, thesprings 25 will force the keepers outwardly to the position shown inFigure 3 or the dotted line position shown in Figure 5. The sides of thekeepers are thus in engagement with the faces 42, 42a so that theresultant component of force is exerted substantially across orlaterally of the axes of the keepers so that the keepers are forcedagainst the wall of the housing members. Outward movement of the door isthus positively prevented since the application of opening force to thedoor will not result in movement of the keeper against action of thesprings 25. The keepers thus yield to permit the bolt to pass therebyduring closing of the door but the keepers cooperate with the bolt toprovide a positive stop preventing opening of the door. In order to openthe door, the handle lever 26 may be shifted so that the arm 33 willeffect withdrawal or retraction of the bolt to the dotted line positionshown in Figure 2. When this position has been reached, the end of thebolt is out of engagement with the keepers so that the door may beopened.

As the gasket l5 becomes worn or substantially compressed between thedoor flange Na and the door frame l4, the door will more nearly approachthe door frame. In order to compensate for this further inward movementof the door and maintain a tight seal around the door, the edges of thekeepers can engage the faces 42, 42a at various points under the actionof the springs 25. As shown by the full line position of Figure 5, thebolt has been moved inwardly from the dotted line position due tocompression or wearing of the gasket and the keepers engage the faces42, 42a near the upper edge of the bolt. Thus, the door is alwaysmaintained in a tightly closed position without play as the gasketbecomes worn or substantially compressed.

From the foregoing description, it will be seen that the presentinvention provides a highly efficient door fastener wherein thespring-pressed keeper elements are mounted on the door frame for slidingmovement with the axes of the keeper elements inclined outwardly withrespect to the door frame and toward one another. The bolt is adapted topass between the free ends of the keeper elements during closing of thedoor. The working end of the bolt is shaped so that, during closing ofthe door, the surfaces contacting the rounded free ends of the keeperelements will be disposed at substantially right angles to thelongitudinal axes thereof so as to force the keeper elements inwardlyagainst the action of the springs. The bolt is further shaped so that,after the door is closed, additional surfaces will be presented to thesides of the keeper elements and substantially. parallel thereto so asto exert a transverse component of force against the keeper elements.Thus, the door can be easily closed but is positively prevented frombeing opened unless the bolt is slidably withdrawn from engagement withthe keeper elements.

While one form of the invention has been shown for purposes ofillustration, it is to be clearly understood that various changes in thedetails of construction and arrangement of parts may be made withoutdeparting from the scope of the invention as set forth in the appendedclaims.

I claim:

1. A keeper device for a door fastener having a longitudinally slidablelatch bolt the holding end of which is provided with a pair of angularlyrelated faces at the inner side of the bolt and a pair of angularlyrelated faces at the outer side of the bolt intersecting in a planecentrally of the latch bolt, said keeper device comprising a housing, apair of keepers mounted for movement in the housing along intersectingaxes extending at acute angles to the door and door.

frame, spring means for moving the keepers outwardly and stop means forlimiting the outward movement thereof, said keepers having their outerends disposed adjacent each other so that the inner pair of faces of thelatch bolt contacting therewith will retract said keepers and passtherebetween to latched position, said keepers moving outward along theouter pair of faces of the latch bolt to retain said door in latchedposition.

2. A keeper device for a door fastener having a longitudinally slidablelatch bolt the holding end of which is provided with a pair of angularlyrelated faces at the inner side of the bolt and a pair of angularlyrelated faces at the outer side of the bolt intersecting in a planecentrally of the latch bolt, said keeper device comprising a housing, apair of keepers mounted for movement in the housing along intersectingaxes eX-, tending at acute angles to the door and door frame, springmeansfor moving the keepers outwardly and stop means for limiting theoutward movement thereof, said keepers having their outer ends disposedadjacent each other so that the inner'pair of faces of the latch boltcontacting therewith will retract said keepers and pass therebetween tolatched position, said keepers moving outward along the outer pair offaces of the latch bolt to retain saidldoor in latched position, theaxes of the keepers being slightly inclined to their respectivecooperating outer faces of the latch bolt.

DAVID C. E. LEONARD.

